Vacation-time resolution pulled from City Council agenda

TROY - A resolution before the City Council Thursday to compensate former City Auditor Charles Drozd for vacation time was pulled from the agenda at the start of the regular monthly meeting.

"I did not authorize Resolution 4, but because my name is attached to it, I am withdrawing it now before the meeting continues," said Councilwoman Marge DerGurahian, Drozd's sister-in-law.

"I'd also like to say that I would never expect my council colleagues to vote on a resolution like this, something that I would be required to recuse myself from voting on."

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She went on to complain that issues discussed in executive session were printed in the resolution.

"To my knowledge, personnel matters that have been discussed in executive session have never, ever been released to the public via the media, and made into a permanent record through the legislative format," she said.

"For this administration, I am not hateful, but I have witnessed the way they have made some decisions, and I have a real concern for the future of the city of Troy," she added.

Drozd was found to be viewing pornography on the job, and according to the resolution, the council voted 8-0 to terminate him on Sept. 20.

Because he was terminated, he is not eligible for unused vacation pay totaling approximately $5,700, and to pay him would break with city policy.

"I am saddened to see that Councilwoman DerGurahian tried to use executive session to violate a city policy and award her brother-in-law vacation pay that he was not entitled to receive," Mayor Harry Tutunjian said after the meeting. "It should have been discussed in a public forum and not behind closed doors. Obviously she did not agree."

The council later discussed the salary of Drozd's replacement, Kelly Moscatiello, who was approved in a 5-4 vote, and the way she was appointed to the city auditor post.

"I'm concerned there's no salary attached to this," DerGurahian said. She questioned Moscatiello being paid the same amount, $50,945 a year, as Drozd, even though she is a new hire.

"I don't believe we should be starting her at the highest salary," she said.

When asked, DerGurahian said she was told the starting salary for the post is $39,125, from a non-represented pay scale that city officials later said is out of date.

Minority members of the council complained that they did not have enough input on the appointment, but council President Henry Bauer reminded them of City Charter rules.

"Charter dictates majority rule," Bauer said. "This was done by the letter of the law."

"This was put before us with no discussion," countered Councilman Clem Campana. "I don't think that was right."

"This all could have been debated a week ago," complained Councilman Mark Wojcik.

All agreed that Moscatiello was highly qualified for the post. She was previously business manager for the North Greenbush Common School District.

"I'm looking forward to working for the entire City Council, not just the majority," Moscatiello said.

The vote to approve her appointment was 5 to 4, with DerGurahian, Campana, Bill Dunne and Peter Ryan voting against.